Ranging from mass-produced to one-of-a-kind works and from hand-crafted to digitally fabricated pieces, this exhibition focuses on the scale, range and creative dexterity found in many contemporary designers’ repertoires today. Innovative contemporary jewelry will be paired with other design objects—from chairs to climbing walls—created by the same designers.
This exhibition will celebrate the accomplishments of key designers currently in the High’s permanent collection, including Ron Arad, Fernando and Humberto Campana, Héctor Esrawe, Johanna Grawunder, Zaha Hadid, Joris Laarman, Marc Newson, Ettore Sottsass, Jr. and Marcel Wanders. The show will also highlight many of the High’s recent acquisitions by these designers and will demonstrate the range of contemporary design.
Examples of notable pairings in the exhibition include the modular Bone Structures necklace (composed of 18 leather pieces attachable by magnets) by Fernando and Humberto Campana alongside their vibrant 2010 Sushi sofa and the gold-plated clown Nose necklace by Marcel Wanders, displayed with his 2006 prototype Crochet chair made of hand-crocheted fiber and epoxy resin.
“Over the last seven years, we have grown our collection of works by these designers to reinforce and explore ideas of production, material, intent and form,” said Sarah Schleuning, curator of decorative arts and design at the High. “By showcasing wearable designs by these artists alongside their works in other mediums, we’ll celebrate the breadth of the influence of these artists and also show how their works have come to shape the High’s permanent collection.”
Other notable works in the exhibition include: Ron Arad’s Blo-Void I rocker and Hot Ingo earrings; Zaha Hadid’s Glace series with Atelier Swarovski and Tea and Coffee Towers; Joris Laarman’s Credit brooch and Ivy climbing wall; and Marc Newson’s Orgone 1 bracelet and Embryo chair.